After an impressive English Premier League campaign, Liverpool have no desire to see Brendan Rodgers move on to another club.

Liverpool announced on Monday morning that they have signed Rodgers to a “long-term” contract extension, with reports out of England stating that the contract is four-years long. Rodgers, in his second season at Liverpool, stunned all the critics and lead Liverpool to a second-place finish, and nearly could have brought the title back to the Northwest of England.

“I am both humbled and privileged to be offered the chance to extend my stay at this great club,” Rodgers said in a club statement. “I am very happy to build on the foundations we have built over the last two years and now we move onto the next phase which I believe will be as exciting, challenging and rewarding.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to the players and staff, who have been absolutely brilliant for me since the day I started at this great football club. I am grateful to our owners and senior management team who have supported me and who share my vision of how we can progress on the field.”

Rodgers’ Liverpool side scored 101 goals in 38 Premier League games as the team played an attractive, free-flowing style of soccer that brought the best out of forwards Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.

Here are some more notes from Monday:

BARCELONA AFTER TRIO OF PLAYERS

FC Barcelona’s new coach Luis Enrique is quickly working to build his squad before the start of the 2014 World Cup.

Barcelona have already signed Marc-Andre ter Stegen, though that had been agreed months ago, but the club are closing in on signing Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos after the French side beat Barcelona to David Luiz. According to beIN Sports, they believe that Barcelona will bid €20 million and Dani Alves to PSG for Marquinhos.

The Catalan club are also reportedly interested in AS Roma defender Medhi Benatia and Torino forward Ciro Immobile, with Benatia’s agent meeting with the club in Barcelona. Barcelona are losing Carles Puyol this summer and are in desperate need of defensive help this summer.

PRANDELLI SIGNS EXTENSION

Italy National Team head coach Cesare Prandelli won’t have to worry about his job status depending on how his side do in Brazil.

The 56-year-old coach signed a two-year extension on Monday, nearly two months after verbally agreeing to the deal with the Italian Football Federation. While Prandelli declined to talk about specifics, reports out of Italy stated in the past that he had asked for more influence with the overall direction of the Italian Youth National Teams in addition to an extension.

Prandelli took over for Marcello Lippi in 2012 and successfully guided Italy to first place in their UEFA World Cup qualification group.

QUICK KICKS

Tottenham are reportedly closing in on signing Southampton’s head coach Mauricio Pochettino. (REPORT)

Croatia’s Niko Kranjcar was ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury. (REPORT)

Tim Cahill scored the equalizing goal for Australia in a warm-up friendly match with South Africa that finished in a 1-1 draw. (REPORT)

VfL Wolfsburg have completed the signing of former German National Team forward Aaron Hunt from Werder Bremen. (REPORT)

Turkey defeated Ireland, 2-1, in an international friendly in Dublin. (REPORT)

————

What do you think of this ticker? Do you believe Rodgers can re-create his success from this past season? Do you see Marquinhos moving to Barcelona?

seems weird that barca have to pay that much + alves for marquinhos, who is now sitting behind thiago silva, david luiz, and alex at psg. he’s a great defender, though. i think he and benatia would be good purchases.

The only reason Alex was playing was because he had a better partnerhip with Thiago Silva. With David Luiz there now marquinhos is the third choice back. And with David Luiz playing Dmid as much as defender all ththree of them could be on the pitch at the same time.